A further look at Georgetown

Two weeks ago we headed eastward along Route 3, sometimes called the Kirtley Trail, leaving the Town of Culpeper aka Culpeper Court House behind us to the west. Our first stop was in the now underground village of Georgetown at the northside foot of Mt. Pony.

New discoveries always amaze and thrill me, not just fresh facts but new resources as well. The research involving the community of Georgetown was no exception and I would be guilty of a disservice not to at least mention a few of findings before departing.

The Massie house, c. 1820 is located on Route 3 and “Winfrey” built prior to 1850 stands south of the intersection of routes 3 and 522. Both would be considered a part of the Georgetown community. “Winfrey” was the long-time home of Claude Guinn a descendant of the Inskeep (Inskip) family. The story of the Inskeeps will someday fill volumes, but suffice it to say for now that the family has resided on or near Mt. Pony since the 1700s. But none of this is new information.

My local history investigation always begins with the Culpeper County Library and if I am lucky, the assistance of Julie Bushong. While trying to unravel discrepancies in dates and marriages of the Haywood men of Georgetown, George Sr., Budd and George, Jr., Julie introduced a new-to-me resource.

The two dates for Budd Haywood’s death 1802 and 1812 were in obvious conflict. I was studying the death records while Julie was checking a Web site.

Quietly she said, “Come and look at this.”

There on screen was a court record chockablock with data related to Georgetown, Budd Haywood and several of his neighbors! It is my new favorite resource and yes, I will share the website, historiccourtrecords.org. These are abstracts from fragmented court documents located in Fredericksburg.

As you might imagine, most of the records pertain to the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania regions, but there is much related to Culpeper and a few other nearby counties. I am eager to make the trip to view the complete documents, but the abstracts were noteworthy.

The death date was confirmed for 1802 as well as his wife’s name and that of his only child. A list of slaves by name corroborated the information found in his will and inventory located in the Culpeper clerk’s office.

From these few documents one can piece together a snapshot of the life of Budd Haywood and the types of trades either utilized or supplied at the village of Georgetown.

An educated man, Budd Haywood owned several books including “Guthrie’s Grammar and Laws of the United States.” He operated a tannery and at least a small farm consisting of 44 cows, 26 sheep, nine pigs, nine beehives, three wagons and a full complement of farm equipment. One might also surmise that he was an avid horse breeder, due to an accounting of 14 horses, mares and colts, some residing at Cole’s farm in nearby Stevensburg. It is not yet clear whether they were raised for racing or some other use. The inventory of assets lists nine unfinished horsehides. It is unlikely anything other than old or infirm horses were used but we will have to keep the books open on that one.

The Haywood household included silver spoons, several beds, a walnut dining table and Windsor chairs among the large list of items.

Employees either occasional or regular included Duncan Campbell, the well digger; Charles Triplett, a schoolmaster; Joseph Eichelberger, a tanner and Polly Marshall the Haywood housekeeper.

There’s even a glimpse of the next door neighbors; William Pierce operated the tavern nearby and Woolry Ming, the Longs and several other named families lived in the village.

Two weeks agp I mentioned that there may be a connection between the Quakers and the settling of Georgetown. The records indicate that Sarah Haines Haywood was raised as a Quaker in New Jersey, but so far the traces end there. The fact that at the time of his death Budd Haywood owned 11 slaves would contradict any theory that he was a practicing Quaker, a religious sect extremely opposed to slavery. Haywood’s obituary has been discovered in the newspaper archives in Fredericksburg. It may be a dead end or very enlightening. I will check it out and let you know.

And what became of the 11 slaves after Haywood’s death in 1802? Did they remain with his widow and son, were they sold, emancipated or moved to NJ when Sarah and George relocated there?

Georgetown was not just a piece of soil or a collection of foundations and buildings. It was a place where people were born, died and in between lived their lives filled with struggles countered by times of joy, much like our own.

For sure, we will be leaving Georgetown and the Haywood family soon but it has been interesting getting to know them.

Until next week, be well

Zann Miner, former director of the Museum of Culpeper History, can be reached at or send her mail at the Star-Exponent, 471 James Madison Highway, Culpeper Va., 22701.

Lost in space
Zann Miner’s column for last week is appearing this week, it would have run last week, but it was lost in cyberspace.